First-ever Canadian Olympic 3×3 basketball team named
TORONTO (June 10, 2024) – Canada Basketball and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the roster of Team Canada 3×3 basketball athletes nominated to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athletes are:
Kacie Bosch (Lethbridge, Alta.)
Paige Crozon (Humboldt, Sask.)
Katherine Plouffe (Edmonton, Alta.)
Michelle Plouffe (Edmonton, Alta.)
Canada successfully qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by finishing third at the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in May 2024. After suffering a last-second loss to Spain in the semifinals, Canada bounced back in the third-place game with a dominant 21-10 victory against the host team Hungary to secure the country’s first 3×3 basketball Olympic berth.
The two highest-ranked players in the world, twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe, who rank first and second, respectively, in the FIBA 3×3 Individual World Rankings, will be making their return to the Olympic Games after their last appearance eight years ago. Both sisters proudly represented Canada as members of the Senior Women’s National Team at Rio 2016. Michelle also competed at London 2012.
Katherine turned in another dominant MVP performance at the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 – her second MVP honours of the year – as she led Canada to Olympic qualification. Last year, Canada captured its second consecutive FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series title in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after Michelle led the tournament in player value and points scored on her way to earning MVP honours.
“I’m super excited to go to, what sounds crazy, but my third Olympic Games,” said Michelle Plouffe. “A few Canadian basketball players have done this on the women’s side, but it’s been incredibly special to make this happen with 3×3. Being a part of this program from the ground up has been just so worth it to build something like this. I’m proud of everyone who has been a part of this team and program, from the staff and players to all those who have supported and encouraged us and told us to keep working towards it. Also, we’re all thankful for our family and friends who have been there for us throughout this incredible journey.
“We have our eyes set on the podium, but so do each of the other seven teams. We know it will be hard with such an elite pool, but we’ve worked hard to get here. At times, we’ve taken the hard, long road, ultimately preparing us for what will come. I’m confident that our team will be ready to go — physically, mentally, and emotionally. When I step on the court in Paris, I’m just really going to soak it all in because you never know what can happen. I’ve loved every part of this journey; the challenges and hurdles we’ve faced will make everything sweeter on the other side. I’m excited for July and to be in Paris and perform on the world’s biggest stage,” she added.
Paige Crozon and Kacie Bosch will both make their Olympic debuts at Paris 2024.
Originally from Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Crozon has been a fixture for Canada in both FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series and international competitions. She is currently ranked third in the FIBA 3×3 Individual World Rankings. Last year, Crozon appeared in 10 3×3 tournaments, including the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2023 and the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2023. Prior to transitioning to 3×3 basketball, Crozon represented Canada at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as several age-group competitions, including the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women and 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women.
“It is an incredible honour to be named to the first-ever 3×3 Canadian Olympic Team,” said Crozon. “I am thrilled to continue playing alongside these remarkable women, whose resilience and dedication inspire me every day. The connections we share and the trust we have built are the foundation of our team’s strength. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our coach, Kim Gaucher, for her invaluable insight and knowledge. Together, we are ready to take on the world and represent our communities and Canada with pride.”
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the support we have received over the last few weeks and for the ongoing encouragement from our families, especially my daughter Poppy. This journey wouldn’t be possible without them. We also hope that young girls share in our excitement and see that their dreams are within reach. I remember watching the Olympics in a small, rural community in Saskatchewan, dreaming of this opportunity,” added Crozon.
Ranked 20th in the FIBA 3×3 Individual Player Rankings, Bosch made the jump to 3×3 in 2021 after a successful collegiate career playing for her hometown University of Lethbridge. She was twice named to the Canada West Second All-Star Team with the Pronghorns. Bosch made her 3×3 national team debut at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2021, where Canada captured bronze. She has been a critical component of the team’s success over the last several years, including a silver medal at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup 2022 and 10 first-place finishes on the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series over the past three seasons.
3×3 basketball made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, but no Canadian teams qualified for the tournaments. However, as a country, Canada has had recent international success in the discipline, including a buzzer-beater gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and top-three finishes at the last three FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup tournaments.
Former Senior Women’s National Team captain and three-time Olympian Kim Gaucher will lead Canada’s 3×3 team at Paris 2024. After a 19-year career as a player for Canada, including four FIBA World Cup appearances, three Olympic Games, and a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, Gaucher retired following Tokyo 2020. Shortly after, she transitioned to coaching and has been working with the women’s 3×3 team since 2022.
The goal is to leave Paris with medals around their necks, cementing this squad’s legacy as one of the best in the sport.
“These women are trailblazers in the world of 3×3 basketball,” said Gaucher. “They embarked on this journey with a dream of growing the game across Canada and reaching the Olympic stage. Over the years, their journey has been filled with highs and lows, with passports stamped with experiences from around the globe. Now, finally, they have the chance to shine with all of Canada and the world watching.”
Canada is one of eight women’s teams competing in 3×3 women’s basketball, which will take place July 30 to August 5 (Days 4 to 10) at La Concorde, the urban sports park constructed in Place de la Concorde.
All eight teams will play each other throughout the opening round. After pool play, the eight teams will be ranked based on their records. The top two teams will advance directly to the semifinals, and the bottom two teams will be eliminated from the tournament. The other four teams will compete in the play-in round, with the winners moving on to the semifinals. The winners of the two semifinal games will advance to the gold medal game, while the losers will compete in the bronze medal game.
”I am so proud to see the very first Canadian 3×3 basketball team qualify for an Olympic Games. These athletes are truly on fire and unstoppable, dribbling past obstacles and scoring baskets like never before. Team Canada has undeniable chemistry and impressive focus. They are determined to give their all to step on the podium in Paris,” said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. ”Go Canada, let’s bring the heat at La Concorde and show them what we’ve got!”
Team Canada’s 3×3 basketball team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following coaches and support staff:
Kim Gaucher (Mission, B.C.) – National Team Head Coach
Ron Yeung (Toronto, Ont.) – 3×3 High Performance Director / Team Leader
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.
The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Matt Walker, Director, Communications & Content
Canada Basketball
C: 289-244-9993
E: mwalker@basketball.ca
Tara MacBournie, Program Manager, Sport Communications
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca